Bersiap (Getting Ready)
A neo-noir short blending Tarantino-esque tension with Southeast Asian quirk.
Inspired by Pulp Fiction but rooted in the rituals of readiness. In Bahasa, bersiap means “to get ready.”
This film is about that idea— focused, peaceful, almost sacred—before something unfolds.
A man prepares. But for what?
May 2023
Selected Shots
Behind The Work.
For this project, I wanted to explore rhythmic editing in a montage—the harmony between visuals and sound. I was heavily inspired by the opening scene of City of God (2002), which uses quick cuts, dance, and music to create emotional urgency and cinematic rhythm.
The goal was to synchronize the visuals with the tempo of the music, cutting precisely at moments where the sound shifted—either peaks or silences. I used black frames throughout the clip, just like in City of God, to give the viewer a visual pause—a moment of reflection before the rhythm kicks back in. Each black frame was timed intentionally with the music to maintain pacing and emotional weight.
One of the more technical challenges was timing my own footwork to the beat while filming, to keep the movement in sync with the sound. If the movement was even slightly off, it disrupted the flow—so hitting the rhythm both in front of and behind the camera became essential.
Looking back, I think the piece captures the spirit of City of God’s intensity and style. The visual-musical rhythm is there, though I recognize areas where the fluidity of the edits could be tightened. Still, this project helped me better understand how editing can act like percussion—cutting not just for continuity but for feeling.